Contents

Discord is a free, online voice and text chat platform originally designed for gamers as a feature-rich alternative to hassling with TeamSpeak and Skype, and is quite similar to Slack. It has gained popularity among Tumblr users as a way to create fandom- or pairing-specific group chats, since Tumblr does not have group chat capabilities. Each group chat is called a "server", within which are multiple "channels" for different kinds of content.

Discord is well known for its group voice-chat capabilities as well as its ability to support server-specific custom emoticons and "bots", or computer accounts that automatically perform a variety of organizational and functional tasks.

Fan Use

Many anime, gaming, book and other fandoms have established group chats on Discord as a way to share ideas and fanworks. Generally, there are four different types of fandom Discord servers: Fandom-specific, Ship-specific, Character-specific, and RP-focused (within a given fandom). Moderators of each server have the power to "boot" members not adhering to the server's rules.

Servers

Fandom Servers

These servers are generally gen-only chats, possibly with certain channels dedicated to ship-specific or NSFW content. Access to discords for Youtube or other Internet content creators are increasingly rewards on the content creator's Patreon.

Ship Servers

Ship-specific servers developed in response to growing shipping wars and malicious cross-tagging on Tumblr and the need to have hate-free spaces to discuss shipping content.

Character Servers

Dedicated group chat for a specific character or group of characters.

RP Servers

Servers within a fandom (or group of fandoms) that focus on RP content and finding RP partners.

Fanwork Servers

Popular fic or fic writers will occasionally have their own fan servers. The writer's presence in these servers is not necessary, and many writers are only sparingly involved with the Discord about them or their work.

Channels

Typically channels will be grouped according to a broader topic, i.e. Fanworks, General Discussion, Shipping Discussion, Non-fandom Topics etc. Different channels for specific types of content will be listed under these umbrella terms, such as Fanart, Fanfic, and Videos under Fanworks, or different ship names under Shipping Discussion. Often there will be separate NSFW channels that are only accessible by invitation, a non-topical channel where users can complain about their daily lives, and a separate group of channels for server administration purposes such as Introductions and Announcements.

"Salt" channels, where people can complain about discourse, shipping wars and wank are also popular. This is viewed as a way to keep the salt out of public view on Tumblr and to avoid causing more fandom drama.

Examples

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.